Premiers jump into the fight against Trump's tariffs
CBC
U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods has prompted a swift response from Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the country's premiers both taking action.
Trudeau began the day by slapping counter-tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods, promising $125 billion more in three weeks' time, once Canadian companies have had the chance to adjust their supply chains.
And more non-tariff measures will be on the way if Trump doesn't reverse course, Trudeau warned.
Canada's premiers have also stepped into the fight, backing the federal government's moves while either announcing their own complementary measures, or promising to do so in the coming days.
The premiers will be responding to the tariffs throughout the day and any new measures they announce will be added here. Meantime, here is a look at how Canada's provinces are responding to the tariffs so far.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of U.S. alcohol products, and that as of Tuesday, he has directed the corporation to pull all American products off its shelves.
"Starting today, all U.S. based companies will be banned from taking part in government procurement," Ford said.
"U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in revenues; they only have President Trump to blame," he added.
Ford also said he is "ripping up" Ontario's nearly $100-million contract with Elon Musk's Starlink — a deal that was supposed to provide high-speed internet access to 15,000 homes and businesses in rural, remote and northern communities.
"It's done, it's gone," Ford said. "We won't award contracts to people who enable and encourage economic attacks on our province and our country."
The Ontario premier further said he is examining what legal steps he needs to take in order to put a 25 per cent export tax on the electricity Ontario sends to 1.5 million homes in Minnesota, Michigan and New York.
Ford said he will also direct electricity producers to shut down exports of energy completely, should Trump move forward with more tariffs.
And Ontario will look at stockpiling the nickel it now sells to the U.S. and sell it to other markets instead, Ford said.
"We also need to be ready to dig in for a long fight," the premier said. "We need to be ready to escalate, using every tool in our tool kit; that includes surcharges or the outright restrictions on the critical minerals and electricity we supply to the United States."
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On Tuesday afternoon, B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey will present the province's 2025-26 budget, which will attempt to manage a ballooning deficit, protect services for British Columbians and respond to tariffs from the U.S. — a 25 per cent fiscal slap that comes on the same day.
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